Ali Ahmed, Director of Quality Management at IHNA Australia, sees education as a transformative force that shapes the human spirit, elevates consciousness, and fosters global knowledge-sharing. Driven by intellectual passion, he continuously hones his skills, embracing learning as a sacred pursuit while contributing to the quest for wisdom and collective progress.
The United Nations General Assembly (UN, 2022) proclaimed September 16th as the ‘International Day for Interventional Cardiology’ (IDIC). This decision aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Combatting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (Weiland et al., 2021). The day’s designation is grounded in crucial resolutions emphasising the commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare services and safe, effective medicines and vaccines. It also recognises the significant impact of interventional cardiology procedures, such as angioplasty, in enhancing patients’ health outcomes while tackling global
The International Day for Interventional Cardiology, aligning with the vision of Universal Health Coverage, emphasises the global commitment to combating non- communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and stroke. It emphasises the necessity of cross-sector collaboration to guarantee timely and efficient treatment for cardiovascular disease patients, aiming for a healthier future for all. Non- communicable diseases (NCDs) account for nearly 70% of global deaths, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) responsible for about 17.9 million deaths annually (WHO, 2024).
The Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) encompass a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. These conditions pose a significant challenge to individual health and healthcare systems on a global scale. Integrating cardiovascular disease management within universal health coverage (UHC) is crucial, yet it demands substantial investment and transformation within many healthcare systems (Bloom et al., 2011). The rise in CVDs can be attributed to lifestyle changes, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use, resulting in a significant economic burden and a transition from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as the primary causes of death. As the global population ages, there is an expected increase in NCDs, including CVDs, which will significantly strain healthcare systems and resources. Hence, it is crucial to address disparities in access to healthcare services, such as interventional cardiology procedures, to ensure equity and fairness in health outcomes among populations, thereby reducing the impact of NCDs on vulnerable communities (World Health Organization, 2014).
Interventional Cardiology: Insights from the Australian Landscape.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2024, the impact of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) on public health in Australia is profound. Overall,
1.3 million Australians (6.7% of the adult population) live with conditions related to CVD, with 600,000 adults (3.0%) affected explicitly by coronary heart disease. Additionally, the prevalence of CVD increases with age, significantly impacting 28% of adults aged 75 and older.
In 2021, there were approximately 57,300 acute coronary events, including heart attacks and unstable angina, averaging around 157 events daily. More precisely, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were responsible for the deaths of 45,000 individuals in 2022, representing 24% of all deaths in the country. In Australia, CVD accounted for 9.5% of total health expenditures, equivalent to approximately $14.3 billion in 2020-21 (AIHW, 2024). In 2022–23, almost 120 million PBS prescriptions for cardiovascular system medicines were dispensed to the Australian community, accounting for 36% of total PBS prescriptions (Department of Health and Aged Care, 2023). Approximately 68% (81 million) of these prescriptions were PBS-subsidised. In 2021–22, CVD was the principal diagnosis for approximately 568,000 hospitalisations in Australia, representing 4.9% of all hospitalisations. Among CVD hospitalisations, coronary heart disease accounted for 26%, followed by atrial fibrillation (13%), heart failure and cardiomyopathy (12%), stroke (12%), peripheral arterial disease (5.5%), hypertensive disease (2.4%), and rheumatic heart disease (0.8%). Males had 1.6 times higher hospitalisation rates compared to females. After adjusting for age, acute care CVD hospitalisations as a principal diagnosis declined by 22% between 2000–01 and 2021–22, from 2,100 to 1,600 per 100,000 populations (AIHW, 2024).
Urgent Call to Action: Risks and Consequences of Cardiovascular Diseases.
Based on these statistics, it can be conveyed that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a predominant contributor to global mortality and impose substantial economic burdens on healthcare systems. Moreover, the critical importance of addressing modifiable risk factors associated with CVD has been emphasized by the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study (Allen et al., 2017). Additionally, it can be argued that identifying modifiable risk factors, including air pollution, lead exposure, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, obesity, diabetes, dietary risks, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyles are key factors towards cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (Vaduganathan et al., 2022). Urgent action to mitigate these risk factors is imperative in averting the adverse consequences of CVD and preventing a potential public health crisis.
In summary, the International Day for Interventional Cardiology signifies a significant commitment to addressing the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Recognizing the anniversary of the first coronary angioplasty (i.e., on September 16, 1977) serves as a reminder of the transformative potential of interventional cardiology in saving lives and enhancing patient outcomes. Additionally, it is imperative to focus on addressing modifiable risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and mitigating the underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular research and practice. As a result, efforts to promote gender equity and combat the burden of cardiovascular diseases are crucial for fostering a healthier future for all